The Socialists rush toward the “reform” congress Boycott and denial—the party’s only alternative The Socialists rush toward the “reform” congress Those who have the elders also have the party Boycott and denial—the party’s only alternative Yesterday, PS Deputy Chairman Namik Dokle again declared that he would not submit the list of members of the Permanent Electoral Commission decreed by Berisha a few days earlier. The Socialists’ decision came immediately after they published the round-table meeting of the parties at the Presidency, where the arrangements for this commission were also discussed. In this way, the Socialist Party is once again confirming its path of withdrawal from the political contest. The party that its chairman has turned into a swamp, along with those people regarded as generals—petty, vain people with epaulettes but no brains—has not failed to announce, just as it did on 26 May, its withdrawal from political initiative. The mire of Albanian politics, stuck in the form of the Socialist Party, still seeks to carry out the services of its former dictatorial past and, in the meantime, paralyze the life of the country. Their departure from the other day’s meeting, followed by their declaration that they would not participate in the Commission, demonstrates this party’s lack of any real contribution to becoming integrated into the normal course of Albanian politics. In any case, their withdrawal expresses the complete incapacity of its leaders. Nano’s opponents still have not understood that, as the situation develops, they must openly and forcefully face the life-or-death challenge taking shape at the district conferences. Otherwise, they are Socialists only in order to avoid engaging politically with the Albanian political process, just as they cannot hide their fear of a political confrontation such as the local elections of 20 October. They feel that they will lose even these elections, so the packaging they give their absence in all kinds of political excuses cannot convince any reasonable person. So far, their opponents’ arguments have been absurd. They cite as justification everything that was supposedly not said or done, both during the decree establishing this Commission and during its discussion. Others have come up with reasons in their own fevered imagination, as if something sinister were happening with this commission. So disoriented are the Socialists politically that they are unable even to identify a move that has to do with an action viewed over the long term, thereby avoiding the priorities of a particular political course. The establishment of the Permanent Electoral Commission is a recommendation of the Council of Europe, and the arrangements were likewise to be worked out by the main political parties. If the Socialist Party had so many objections to the commission, why did it not come and discuss them at the table with the others? Even though their results were entirely normal proposals, with which one could move freely among both the governing and opposition parties, the Socialists now refuse to submit the Commission’s membership. There is nothing more relevant that the Socialists could propose in their own favor, even if they took part in discussing the Commission’s details. In any case, the Socialists cannot hold up developments in Albania through unilateral boycotts. There are other parties in Albania with which one can work. There are important and serious parties in Albania with which one can work. Albania has a state and laws. Albania is a normal state and cannot be represented by the currents of one part of its political life. The Albanian opposition is no longer a state that functions as a result of the majority vote. Democracy means a state that operates under the law, not through anarchism. No one can expect to win elections or power by doing whatever they please if the people do not want it that way. The crisis of representation gripping the Socialists, which also reflects other crises affecting this party, is the real reason that leads them to deny political facts that help further institutionalize Albanian politics. The PS is carrying out a renewal drive among young people Page 3 Enverists attack the Eurosocialists Nano’s opponents still have not understood that, with this evolution of the situation, they must openly and forcefully confront they are already defeated, because their opponent is playing on his home ground: he currently has the chairman and the old guard of seasoned veterans ready to support him. If they have gone too far in their criticism and can no longer bring back into their fold the old partisans, who are in the majority in the Socialist Party, they are also unable to win the trust of the younger members, who are fed up with the imprisoned chairman’s monstrous whims. Nano’s opponents still have not understood that, as the situation develops, they must openly and forcefully face the life-or-death challenge taking shape at the district conferences. Otherwise, they are just

Nano’s opponents still have not understood that, as the situation develops, they must openly and forcefully face the life-or-death challenge taking shape at the district conferences. Otherwise, they are just

Last night on the outskirts of Tirana Gëzim Neziri, 26, an agent of the criminal police at Precinct No. 1, was killed by unidentified persons together with his brother Besim Neziri, 32, a member of the Police Academy.

Mr Gjongecaj comments after learning that the PS is boycotting the round table “This is an expression of a deep crisis and defeatism that has engulfed this party.” “An expression of a very deep crisis that has engulfed the PS pyramid” was how PD Secretary General Besnik Gjongecaj described the PS’s official position of refusing to participate in a round table initiated by the PD just two days earlier. Commenting last night to “RD,” Mr Gjongecaj described the PS’s boycott of the open dialogue as “an expression of the defeatism and the outcome of the platform on which this party was built.” For many analysts, this expresses the spirit of eliminations in a struggle for survival, and the settling of scores that has engulfed the swampy terrain of the self-proclaimed socialist fortress. The PD Secretary General concluded his statement on the PS’s refusal to participate in the round table scheduled for 19 August ’96 by describing it as “another piece of evidence that the PS has no alternative other than boycott.”

Gëzim Neziri Last night, at around 9:00 p.m., at a place known as Kafja e Remës on the outskirts of Tirana, Academy. The killers fired automatic weapons from an “Audi” car and immediately fled the scene. The police have launched a search for the perpetrators and have so far identified the vehicle used in the crime; it has been impounded and is being examined. Intensive efforts are under way to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The two victims were born in Krujë and lived in Tirana.

In Durrës, Majko re-elects Nano’s loyalists Agasi steals Koja’s votes PS conference, Peqin The PS should be called the Agrarian Party PS conference in Fushë-Krujë Readers of “RD” and “Albania” are diversionists Page 3

Letter from the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Union To the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, has received a letter of greetings from the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Union, Mr Pierr Cornillon. “I am confident that under your leadership,” the letter states, among other things, “the Albanian parliament will continue its active contribution to our organization. Be assured that the Secretariat of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is entirely at your disposal to provide any kind of assistance you may require. I look forward to continuing our close and fruitful cooperation.”